Michael Conforto had three RBIs, including a home run to break a 4-4 tie, leading the Mets to a 5-4 win over the Phillies Saturday night in Philadelphia. The win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Mets.
The Mets jumped on top early, with a HBP and then four consecutive hits, including back-to-back doubles by Pete Alonso and Conforto. Alonso’s was a smash to center field that might have been a triple if it didn’t bounce over the wall. Conforto’s was one that the outfielder lost in the sun/shadows, which might have been a single (or an out) if the game started at 7:05 rather than 6:05.
Regardless, the Mets had a walk and three hits with runners in scoring position in the first, which was seemingly more production than they’ve gotten in the last 10 days. They had Zack Wheeler on the ropes but he finally completed the inning by getting James McCann to ground into a double play. McCann needs a day off and maybe they’re asking him to do too much. Maybe it should be McCann four days a week and Tomas Nido twice.
After throwing 31 pitches in the first inning, Wheeler settled down to go seven innings, only getting in trouble in the fourth, when he put two runners on.
The Phillies got two runs in the second inning, including an RBI single by Wheeler. And then Alec Bohm tied it in the sixth with a two-run homer to right.
There was some controversy in the seventh inning but instead of being player related, this one was umpire driven. Andrew McCutchen should have been called out on strikes but the ump missed the call and one pitch later he was on first with a walk. Next batter hit a grounder to the right of the second base bag that Francisco Lindor fielded but because of the shift, there was no one available to cover second base. Lindor tried to tag McCutchen but he missed. He then threw to first base and the ump called the runner safe, on what certainly seemed to me to be an out when it happened live.
Meanwhile, the second base ump called McCutchen out for running out of the basepaths, which was a bad call. And for some reason, that play is not reviewable. While the Phillies argued, the Mets challenged the play at first and replay overruled the call on the field. So, in the span of two batters, umps made three bad calls.
Still, the game was tied and either team could have won. And given what we’ve witnessed here recently, it was surprising that the Mets did. And they did thanks to a moon shot by Conforto, which had just enough distance to clear the fence.
Edwin Diaz had a 1-2-3 ninth for his third save of the year. Another good game for the bullpen, as Diaz combined with Aaron Loup and Trevor May for three scoreless innings.
Both Brandon Nimmo and J.D. Davis left the game early. Nimmo hurt himself on a swing and bruised a finger. X-rays were negative but it wouldn’t be a surprise if he missed Sunday’s game. It wasn’t immediately apparent how Davis hurt himself but it was another hand injury.
Interesting game. Conforto starts hitting, Lindor and McNeil don’t. Mets two best hitters this season both get hurt. Too bad it came after Nimmo goes 1 for 16 and not before. With Guillermo out, Mets are suddenly thin in the infield… no days off coming up.
Wheeler’s hit was stupid pitching. I was concerned that neither Taijuan nor McCann knew that Wheeler could hit, and he hits a two- strike pitch that is far too hittable… could have led to a loss.
All the controversy with the play obscured the fact that Lindor should have just made sure of the tag on McCutcheon rather than throw to first. Would have left the go-ahead run on second instead of first. Mental error.
McCann is clearly wasted… just drained. Get a clue, Rojas. Mets need to dig down and win the series from a pathetically depleted Phillies team. Peterson needs to redeem his terrible start against them last month. I believe he will. Play Almora!
Thankfully our pitching has been great keeping us in games waiting for the bats to come alive. Got to feel good about Diaz so far. Read something that Lindor is a slow starter but then comes on strong. We’re waiting. Conforto seems to be finding his stroke – it’s about time. I’ve said this many times before – where is the big bat in the lineup that other pitchers really hate to face? When Cohen said he wants a winner in the next 3-5 years it shows how long it might take to build a strong annual contender, and not just the flash in the pan that we get when everything possible falls into place – like 2015. And next years free agent class has some familiar names but nothing that jumps out as a superstar so I would look for some trade deadline pickups this season and then going the trade route in the offseason. At least we are in the NL “least” so anything is possible! Let’s start by taking today’s rubber game.
Gut Reaction: Conforto finally delivered a desperately needed clutch hit for the team. It was made possible by the bullpen. The bullpen was lights out again. Alonso has been consistent this year with a better approach. Let’s go win the rubber game tonight.
The bullpen was lights out because they didn’t use Familia. Honestly, when I saw him warming up in a tie game, my heart leapt out of my chest… my god! At this point, I might bring him in to face one guy after there are two out, or when the game is out of hand… that’s it. In a close game, there has to be other options… like every other pitcher on the team!
I won’t rest until he is traded in July to a contending team as a rental player… hopefully someone really needs him.
Thank you for mentioning that Cutch never should have been on base in the first place. Was driving me nuts that Gary & Ron didn’t mention this bit of baseball karma.
Well, Gary thought it was a strike and that McCutcheon should have been struck out.
But Lindor panicked when his initial reach for McCutheon was short. At that point, he sold have just gone after him, nailed him before he reached second and gotten the force play. It could have turned out all wrong, but the Mets got lucky.